Chapter 49: Blue Eyes

"What about him?" Steve asks.

"He's here." I say, not looking away from Luc.

"What?"

"How did he even..."

"Why?"

"I don't understand."

"Well shit."

"Are you sure?"

Everyone asks simultaneously.

"Where?" Clint asks pulling me out of my stupor.

"Third stool from the left side of the bar." I say finally looking away.

"Want me to go spill my drink on his date?" Tony asks.

"He has a date?!" I have to stop myself from shrieking that as my gaze whips back to Luc.

"Well he did just kiss the woman with him." Thor says.

"He what." I say through gritted teeth glaring at the laughing couple. I feel Clint tighten his grip on my waist. I look up at him and he's taking his earpiece out.

I do the same before he says, "What's the plan?"

"What?"

"Jade Leiton is going to let a dirty, cheating dog get away with it?" He asks. I smirk looking back to Luc.

As I'm thinking, a big, burly, bald guy walks up to the bar, behind Luc. An evil grin grows on my face as my plan forms. "You see that big guy with the long, grey beard?" I ask Clint.

"Fat Gandalf? Yeah." He responds.

"Okay, I'm going to go get his watch off of him and then you come by taking it off me and planting it on Luc."

"Okay... And?" Clint asks, clearly not getting it.

"I'll ask the time and when he's looking for it, he'll see it sticking out of Luc's pocket."

"And beat the living shit out of him." Clint finishes. I smile at him before leaving his grasp. "Make sure he doesn't see you." Clint adds. I nod in response. On my way to the bar, I spot Tony. He's pointing at his ear with a confused look. I wink at him before sauntering up to Baldy.

"Wow, I bet you have one hell of a right hook." I say upon approaching him and rubbing his right arm. Luc stands with his back to us. I refrain from listening in on what drawl he's spewing to the his pigskin date.

"Hi there little lady, care for a drink?" He asks.

"I would love one, Julia by the way." I say holding out my hand. As he shakes my right hand, my left hand travels down his arm and to his wrist, unclasping his watch.

"Bradley." He responds. I catch his watch in my left hand as Bradley turns back to the bar to order. I see Clint out of the corner of my eye and hand him the watch. While Clint orders a drink, Bradley hands me a glass with some fruity mixture.

"Why thank you." I smile taking a sip. He nods in return.

Before the bartender returns to Clint, I see him turn around and bump into Luc, his left hand clasping onto his shoulder and giving it a squeeze while his right hand fiddles with the watch and Luc's blazer pocket. "Hey sorry man, my bad." Clint says before leaving.

"No worries." Luc responds with a silky smooth voice. I'm gonna miss that when Bradley punches him in the throat.

Before Bradley can say something I ask, "Do you have the time?" Bradley lifts up his sleeve only to find his bare wrist. His eyes widen and he turns around frantically. His eyes catch on the gleaming wrist band hanging out of Luc's pocket.

"Hey!" Bradley shouts, grabbing Luc's shoulder and spinning him around, his drink sloshing on his suit. Without hesitation, Bradley clocks Luc square in the nose.

And I thought breaking noses was Lillian's specialty.

"Que se passe-t-il?!" (What the hell?!) Luc shouts holding his nose.

"I don't know what you just said, but you stole my watch!" Bradley exclaims grabbing his watch.

"How dare you accuse me!" Luc responds drawing back with his bloody hand and punching Bradley. I step back, setting my drink down, snickering while the two start out in a full on brawl. No one stops them, a crowd forms actually encouraging them. I turn away, hearing a satisfying howl of pain from Luc and maneuver to Clint.

He wraps an arm around my waist and we make our leave. "You deserve so much more." Clint whispers, kissing my temple. I sigh as we walk through the door, thankfully no one stopping us.

We walk down to the street before separating ways without another word. I take a deep breath, wrapping my arms around myself as the wind blows. I cross the street, quickly going by a taxi and then entering the alley.

I see a dark figure leaning against the wall and the closer I get I see his golden hair shining from the moonlight. "Hey, what happened? Are you okay?" Steve asks as I approach him, his mask in hand. I untie my own before answering.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I walk passed him down the alley before turning right and walking back to the tower.

"Okay, well what happened? And why do I have this file?" Steve asks, catching up to me and holding out the file.

I take it from him saying, "This is my HYDRA file. By analyzing all the experiments they did on me, I can finally determine everything that's wrong with my body."

"That's wonderful. Now about Luc...Tony said you and Clint took out your coms, walked over by Luc and then he and this guy got in a fight."

"Well Luc was there with another girl. They kissed and lord knows what else. And there is no chance in hell you cheat on Jade Sawyer without paying a price."

Steve chuckled before saying, "Okay, so why did a fight break out?"

"I pick-pocketed the watch of the guy that started it and Clint planted it on Luc. When I asked for the time and Bradley didn't have it, he saw the wrist band hanging out of Luc's pocket." I answer shivering again.

"Here." Steve says taking of his blazer and placing it on my shoulders.

"Thank you." I say, Steve taking my things as I slip my arms through the sleeves. Despite his clear refusal of it, I do take my clutch, mask and file back.

His warmth wraps around me and his jacket smells like him too. It's silent for several moments before Steve asks, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I say looking at my feet. "Luc's just a dick." He chuckles again.

*Steve's POV*

I chuckled as Jade kicked a rock, looking down at her feet. She looked so small in my jacket, the bottom reaching her lower thigh and sleeves being gargantuan on her. It's silent for another minute or two as I contemplate asking another question. "This isn't meant to be offensive, but why him? What made you fall in love with him?" I ask, despite the bitter taste in my mouth. She doesn't believe it, but Jade deserves better than scum like Luc. Jade takes a deep breath before answering.

https://youtu.be/Ij_vcZyvWfo

(A/N: Just a lil' som-som for mood.)

"He admired my melancholy madness and said it was graceful and beautiful. I think that's why. He was the first to show me love and kindness in years. But it's neither of those things. I am neither of those things. I'm like... I'm like a hurricane at the center of a burning, collapsing building; I am not someone to be admired at all."

My next question made her laugh. When I asked her if she was afraid to fall in love, she damn near doubled over. "Afraid? My heart has been through hell and back. Yet it never quits, refuses to rest, gives without asking in return and is deeper than the deepest sea. It is love, my dear, that should be afraid of me. And you know what people say about playing with fire, the same saying goes for playing with the heart. In the end, you'll be the one burning. I've grown brave enough to take that risk, because fire and love alike, are beautiful things."

"What's with the sudden change in heart towards relationships?" I ask.

"I've always felt this way. Luc just reminded me I can have it too."

"Do you regret it? Getting back together with him?"

"Of course not. You and the others helped contribute to this, but Luc was the extra shove I needed to love myself again. I deserve happiness, Luc just won't be apart of it. He's the one that screwed up, that's his fault and he can deal with it. Besides, you never let go of your first love."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you still love Peggy?"

...

"I don't think I could ever stop."

"Then you know what I mean."

"How are you so okay with this? You were just cheated on."

"I know I should be sad, crying even. I just keep remembering something my mother told me. She sat me down after her and her sister were in an argument and told me 'When people walk away from you, let them go. There should be no conversation with you talking them into staying, loving you, calling you, caring about you and coming to see you. Because if they really care about you in the first place, they would not be going anywhere.' Since Luc had the balls to cheat of me, I know he doesn't care. And yeah, it hurts, but, from this, I know he wouldn't be worth the tears." Her beautiful accent slipped. 

"But it still hurts." I confirm.

"A lot. I just don't understand, am I not enough?"

"Jade." I stopped her, making her look at me with her teary eyes. "You are more than enough. You're too passionate not to be a priority and if Luc can't see that... Then he's a damn fool for losing someone as spectacular as you."

She hugged me, clung to me. I wrapped my arms around her and soon felt her tears through my shirt. I held her tighter, rubbing her back as she released a sob. I felt her nuzzle closer into me chest. After several more seconds, I pulled her back enough to see her face and cupped her cheeks, wiping her tears. She tried to look away, but I held her in place. Her bright eyes dilated as they stared into mine, and I noticed the green and gold flecks I hadn't before. Her breath was even as she leaned into me.

I wanted to kiss her.

But I couldn't. She's vulnerable.

It wouldn't be right.

*Jade's POV*

I wanted to kiss him.

But I couldn't. He'd think it was just a rebound.

It wouldn't be right.

He clenched his jaw as he held my face, his thumb brushing across my cheek, and I could tell he was thinking. He seemed to lean closer, but quickly drew back, his hands leaving my face and dropping to his sides. I unwrap my arms from Steve's torso and begin walking again, but he's quick to grab my free hand.

About 15 minutes later, we arrive at the tower and the entire walk back is silent. Not a word is spoken through the lobby, in the elevator and down the hallway. Our hands stayed intertwined until we arrived at our doors and I let go to take his jacket off.

"Get some rest, Jade." Steve says softly, caressing my cheek and brushing my hair back slightly. I lean into his hand, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath; enjoying the warmth and roughness from his touch. I open my eyes releasing my breath.

"You too, Blue Eyes." 

A/N: Woah. So this chapter caused a lot of... I'm not sure, not stress or anything, but I wanted it to be perfect. It's still not, but I had so many people read it and give me opinions, I just was so unsure about it. 

I hope Jade pleased everyone with how she got back at Luc. And if not, don't worry, there's more. Now for what I know everyone is dying about. 

Jade and Steve. Captain Viper, Sade (what I prefer cause Jeve for some reason sounds like another words for jizz), Frenchcicle (I don't know, Tony's nicknames for them). Whatever, you get it. I know, I know, you want me dead cause they didn't kiss. But I'm just getting your feet wet for what's yet to come. 

The song attached is Fly Down by Stephan and the photo's what Steve is looking at. 

I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter, it definitely tested me as a writer, but I'm happy with it. Again, not perfect, but it makes me happy. Here's to it making you happy too. Thank you all, I love you. 

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